Geared adjustment means



H. W. GEGENHEIMER GEARED ADJUSTMENT MEANS July 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 17, 1948 JNVENTOR. Gggefz/Lel/,me/f

July 17, 1951 H. w. GEGENHEIMER 2,561,018

GEARED ADJUSTMENT MEANS Filed Aug. 17, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheei' 2 INVENTOR. YQWOCZ ZM @59m/Leine,

July 17, 1951 H. w. GEGENHEIMER GEARED ADJUSTMENT MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 17. 1948 Patented July 17, 1951 GEARED ADJUSTMENT MEANS Harold W. Gegenheimer, Mystic, Conn., assignor to Electric Boat Company, Groton, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 17, 1948, Serial No. 44,656-

(Cl. i4-395) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses, and has to do with an adjustable printing press cylinder.

It is known to provide, in printing presses, plate cylinders which may be adjusted about their axes, i. e., relative to the sheet of paper to be printed upon, whereby the position of the plate or image relative to the sheet of paper may be adjusted by the operator for correcting registration, or for other purposes. In general, in the known adjustable plate cylinders with which I am familiar, the extent of adjustment of the cylinder is objectionably limited, the operation of adjusting the cylinder is rather tedious and time consuming, and the means for releasably securing the cylinder to its associated drive gear is rather complicated and difficult to operate.

My invention is directed to an adjustable cylinder which avoids the above noted objections to the present adjustable cylinders referred to. More particularly, I provide means whereby the cylinder may be quickly secured to and released from its associated drive gear and, when released, may quickly be turned in either direction to any desired extent, through a complete rotation if desired, and fine adjustments may readily be effected. To that end, I provide simple and quickly operated means whereby the body structure of the cylinder may readily be clamped to and released from its drive gear and the body of the cylinder, when released, may readily b e turned to desired extent in either direction. More specifically, I provide a ring gear and means for clamping it to the cylinder body, such means comprising an annular clamp member concentric with the gear and spaced radially inward therefrom, there being securing members passing between the ring gear and the clamp member and connected to the body structure of the cylinder for movement toward and away from the latter whereby the clamping and releasing operations may be effected with expedition and facility. The ring gear comprises an internal gear adapted to mesh with an adjusting pinion of an adjusting tool by means of which the body structure of the cylinder may be turned in either direction relative to the ring gear, when the latter is released from the body structure of the cylinder and is held against turning movement. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of an adjustable plate cylinder embodying my invention, the power end portion only of the cylinder being shown and the power side of the press frame being shown fragmentarily in vertical section, and associated parts;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing an adjusting tool in position for effecting adjustment of the cylinder vbody structure, certain parts being broken away and certain other parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side View of an adjusting tool suitable for use in adjusting the plate cylinder of my invention, the handle portion of the'tool being broken away in major part; and

Figure 6 is an inner face view of the tool o Figure 5, the handle being broken away in major portion.

The cylinder of my invention comprises a body structure 'I which, in general, may be of known type and is provided with suitable plate clamping means. The body structure of the cylinder and the plate clamping means may be similar to the cylinder and plate clamp disclosed in the Patent No. 2,101,173, issued December 7, 1937, to William Gegenheimer. The cylinder is mounted for rotation on a shaft 8, by means of roller bearings 9, of known type, this shaft being fixed at one end to a side frame I0 of the press in a suitable manner. Conveniently, reduced end portion EL of shaft 8 is mounted in a flanged bearing sleeve Il bolted to frame l0, there being a spacing sleeve I2 disposed about shaft 8 and confined between the inner end of sleeve Il and inner race I3 of the roller bearing 9. A clamp ring I5 is bolted to the end of shaft 8 and clamps the latter to bearing sleeve Il. The particular mounting of the shaft 8 and of the cylinder thereon is not of the essence of my invention and any suitable mounting may be provided.

The cylinder body structure 'l is provided, at the power end thereof, with an extension I6 of reduced diameter. A bearer ring l1 ts about extension I6 and seats against the adjacent end of the cylinder body, to which it is secured by suitably disposed bolts I8 the heads of which are countersunk in ring I 1, as shown.

A main drive ring gear 20 fits about extension I6 and seats against the outer face of the bearer ring I1. This gear 20 is provided, in its outer end face, with an annular recess 2l,r which receives an annular rib 22 extending from the inner end of a back lash ring gear 23 seating on the outer face of the main gear 2U, to which it is secured by cap screws 24 the heads of which are disposed in suitable recesses or sockets extending from the outer face of back lash gear 23. The main gear and the back lash gear 23' together constitute a main drive gear for driving the plate cylinder from a suitable gear train, including a gear 25 meshing with the main drive gear 2li- 23 of the plate cylinder. The gear 25 is secured on the drive or power end of a blanket cylinder (not shown) also having secured thereon a bearer ring 26 which normally is in bearing contact with the bearer ring I1 of the plate cylinder. It will be understood that the plate cylinder is provided adjacent each end thereof with a bearer ring Il,

the blanket cylinder also being provided adiacent each end with a bearer ring 25 contacting the corresponding bearer ring l1 of the plate cylinder. When the press is not in operation,

the plate cylinder drive gear 23e-23 is held f against rotation by the blanket roll gear 25 in mesh therewith and constituting an element of the gear train from a suitable power source.

A clamp ring 28 seats in a rabbet 29 interiorly of extension I5, at the outer end thereof, and receives a seal ring 3i? fitting about sleeve I 2. The ring gear 2li extends radially inward beyond the back lash vring gear 23 and is formed to provide an internal ring gear 32 of slight axial extent relative to ring gear 2t. This ring gear 2t thus comprises the internal ring gear 32 and the eX- ternal ring gear 33. The outer end face of the portion of ring gear 29 constituting the internal ringgear 32 preferably is disposed in the same plane as the louter end face of the clamp ring 28.

threading the bolts 36 tightly into extension I i the washers exert clamping pressure on ring gear 20 and on clamp ring 2B, effective for clamping ring gear 2E! to bearer ring ll and extension i6 of the cylinder body structure for rotating the latter with the main drive gear 29-23 By turning the bolts 36 out a short distance, the rirler gear 20 and clamp ring 28 are released from the bearer ring ll and extension I6, and the cylinder body structure 'I may then be tur-ned about shaft 8 relative to gear 23e-23, as will be eX- plained more fully presently.

The clamp ring 2B is spaced radially inward a substantial dis-tance from the internal ring gear 32 providing an annular space 38 of substantial width between them, shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4. The securing bolts 33 pass through space 38 which is otherwise unobstructed throughout its full circumference.

The extension l5 of the cylinder body structure 'l is provided with a recess or bore 3S opening through its outer end, and with afacing or seat 40 concentric with bore 39. This bore 39 is spaced radially inward from the internal ring gear 32 and is adapted for reception of a stud 4| fixed in one end of a handle 42 of an adjusting tool 43. A spur pinion 44 is xed on stud 4| at about the mid-length thereof, the pinion de being of such diameter that it meshes with the internal ring gear 32 when stud lll is inserted into bore 39, this bore, and stud 4| being, of course,`

Each of the washcylindrical. The diameter of pinion d4 is such that, when it is in mesh with the internal ring gear 32, it clears the clamp ring 23. When it is desired to adjust the plate cylinder, the securing bolts 36 are turned out slightly, sufficiently to release body structure 'l of the cylinder from the gear 2li- 23 and from the clamp ring 2S. The cylinder body structure 'l may then be turned relative to gear 2li-23, which is locked by the gear 25, as previously explained. Stud il of tool 43 is then inserted into bore 39 into its position shown in Figure 3, with pinion lill in mesh with internal ring gear 32 and handle d2 of the tool disposed outward beyond the back lash gear 23 and clear of the heads of the securing bolts 33. By swinging the handle i2 of tool 3 in proper direction, the pinion 44 is caused to travel around the internal gear 32 thus turning the cylinder body structure 'i to desired extent and in desired direction. The cylinder body 'I may thusv be ad- ,justed about its axis relative to gear 2li-23 in either direction and to desired extent, if desired throughout a complete rotation, though ordinarily that is neither necessary nor desirable. After the proper adjustment of the cylinder body 'l has been eiected as above, the securing bolts 33 are turned tightly into the extension le of the cylinder body structure, effective for clamping thereto the gear 2li-23 for driving the cylinder, as previously explained. In that manner, the plate cylinder may be adjusted with expedition and facility to any extent desired, from very slight adjustment thereof to adjustment throughout a complete. rotation.

I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as applied to the plate cylinder of a printing press, to which it is particularly suited. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to a plate cylinder and, in its broader aspects, may be applied to any suitable cylinder where angular adjustment thereof relative to its associated driving means may be or become necessary or desirable.

As above indicated, and as will b-e understood by those skilled in this art, changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the iield and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the .appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forni only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim;

l, In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a Gylinder bodystrueture mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear coaxial with and seating on said body structure, and clamp means releasdbly securing said gear to said body structure, said ring gear being otherwise free from said body structure and said clamp means when released eing disposed out of the path of rotation of said cylinder body structure providing for adjustment of said body structure relative to said ring gear in either direction through a complete rotation.

2. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear coaxial with and seating on said body structure, and clamp means releasably securing said ring gear to said body structure comprising an annulus abutting the cylinder body structure disposed in concentric spaced relation to said ring gear and pressure applying means engaging said ring gear and annulus and including members passing between said ring gear and annulus and connected to said anchois cylinder body structure for relative movement toward and away from the latter, said ring gear and annulus deiining between them an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body structure.

3. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear coaxial with and seating on said body structure, an annulus concentric with said ring gear spaced radially inward therefromy and dening therewith an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body structure, said ring gear and said annulus seating endwise on said cylinder body structure. and means effective for forcing said ring gear and said annulus into clamping contact with said cylinder body structure comprising pressure applying means including members passing between said ring gear and annulus and connected to said cylinder body structure for relative movement toward and away from the latter.

4. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having a reduced cylindrical end extension, a bearer ring disposed about said extension i'lxed to said body, a ring gear disposed about said extension seating endwise on said bearer ring7 a clamp ring concentric with said ring gear spaced radially inward therefrom seating on said extension, said clamp ring and ring gear dening between them an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body, and pressure applying means for forcing said ring gear and said clamp ring into clamping contact with said bearer ring and said extension respectively comprising members passing between said ring gear and said clamp ring and connected to said extension for adjustment toward and away from the latter.

5. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout and having a reduced cylindrical end extension, a bearer ring disposed about said extension iixed to said body, a ring gear disposed about said extension seating endwise on said bearer ring, a clamp ring concentric with said ring gear spaced radially inward therefrom seating on said extension, said clamp means and said ring gear deiining between them an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body, clamp members bridging the space between said ring gear and said clamp ring seating thereon, and headed bolts passing through said clamp members and threading into said extension, said bolts being clear of said ring gear and clamp ring.

6. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, said ring gear seating on said cylinder body structure coaxially therewith, and clamp means releasably securing said ring gear in driving pressure contact with said body structure comprising a clamp ring concentric with and spaced radially inward from said ring gear providing therebetween an annular space adapted for reception of an adjusting pinion meshing with said internal gear, said ring gear being otherwise free from said cylinder body structure.

7. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, said ring gear seating on said cylinder body structure coaxially therewith, and clamp means releasably securing 6, said ring gear in driving pressure contact with said body structure comprising a clamp ring concentric with and spaced radially inward fromsaid ring gear, said ring gear being otherwise free from said cylinder body structure, said body structure having a bore therein opening into the space between said ring gear and said clamp ring spaced radially inward from said internal gear.

8. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on saidshaft for rotation thereabout and having a reduced cylindrical end extension, a ring gear comprising a main gear and a back lash gear on the axially outer face of said main gear fixed thereto, said ring gear seating on the end of said cylinder body structure in concentric spaced relation to said end extension, said main gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, a clamp ring seating on the radially inner portion of said end extension dening with said internal gear an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body structure, clamp members bridging said space and seating on said main gear and clamp ring, and headed bolts passing through said clamp members and space and threading into said extension, the latter having means for rotatably mounting thereon within said space a pinion in mesh with said internal gear and restrained against relative movement circumferentially of said end extension.

9. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout and having a reduced cylindrical end extension, a ring gear comprising a main gear and a back lash gear on the axially outer face of said main gear xed thereto, said ring gear seating on the end of said cylinder body structure in concentric spaced relation to said end extension, said main gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, a clamp ring seating on the radially inner portion of said end extension defining With said internal gear an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body structure, clamp members bridging said space and seating on said main gear and clamp ring, and headed bolts passing through said clamp members and space and threading into said extension, the latter having a bore therein opening into said annular space and spaced radially inward from said internal gear.

10. In a printing press cylinder, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout and having a reduced end extension, a ring gear seating on the end of said cylinder body structure spaced radially outward from said end extension, said ring gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, and clamp means releasably securing said ring gear to said body structure comprising a clamp ring seating on the radially inner portion of said end extension and dening with said internal gear an annular space opening axially outward of said cylinder body structure, said end extension having a bore therein opening into said annular space and spaced radially inward from said internal gear.

11. In a ,printing press cylinder structure, a shaft, a cylinder body structure mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, a ring gear comprising an external gear and an internal gear, said ring gear seating on said cylinder body structure coaxially therewith, and clamp means releasably securing said ring gear in driving pressure contact with said cylinder body structure, said ring gear being otherwise free from said cyl- 7 index :body 'structure `and said clampmeans pro viding a continuous annular space extending rediafllr 4inward from said internal gear andopening axially outward of said cylinder body -structure.

HAROLD W. GEGENHEIMER.

REFERENCES CITED :The following references are of vrecord in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sibley July `*7, .1868

Number Number Number Name Date u l Barton Apr. B, "1'86'9 Kellberg Apr. 14, '1891 Barnes Jan. 31, 1911 McIndoe Dec. 16, 1924 Rosener Jan. 4, 1927 Palmer Nov. 13, 1928 Greenwood July 19, 1932 Koppe June 23, 1936 Huck Sept. 14, 193'? FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Jan. 26,1912 

